Half-fitting prevention connector

ABSTRACT

In a half-fitting prevention connector ( 200 ), a slider ( 10 ) positively prevents a half-fitted condition of a pair of connectors by a resilient force of compression springs ( 9 ) received in a housing ( 3 ) of the male connector ( 1 ), and the slider is received in this housing, and when the male connector is to be fitted relative to the female connector ( 2 ), the slider cooperates with the compression springs ( 9 ) to move between a lock position where the slider holds a lock arm ( 6 ), provided in the housing ( 3 ), in retained relation to a housing ( 21 ) of the female connector ( 2 ) and a non-lock position. The lock arm ( 6 ) has a lock projection ( 7 ) for retaining the slider ( 10 ) in the lock position against the resilient force of the compression springs ( 9 ). A buffer mechanism ( 40 ) is provided at the housing ( 3 ), and during returning movement of the slider ( 10 ) from the non-lock position to the lock position by the resilient force of the compression springs ( 9 ), the buffer mechanism abuts against the slider ( 10 ) before the lock projection ( 7 ) abuts against the slider, so as to absorb an impingement energy by an elastic deformation thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a half-fitting prevention connector inwhich a slider, mounted on at least one of a pair of connectors to befittingly connected together, positively prevents a half-fittedcondition of the two connectors by a resilient force of spring members,and also the slider can positively lock the connector to the matingconnector in a fitted condition.

The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei.11-165539, which is incorporated herein by reference.

2. Description of the Related Art

Usually, various electronic equipments are mounted on a vehicle such asan automobile, and therefore, naturally, various types of female andmale connectors are provided at connection ends of various kinds ofwires forming wire harnesses or the like.

Various half-fitting prevention connectors, capable of detecting ahalf-fitted condition of the female and male connectors, have been used,and one half-fitting prevention connector is disclosed in UnexaminedJapanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei. 5-81967.

This half-fitting prevention connector comprises a pin-type connector,having a plurality of juxtaposed pin contacts mounted therein, and asocket-type connector having a plurality of juxtaposed socket contactsmounted therein. A movable cover is mounted on the outer periphery ofthe female connector for movement back and forth. Spring receivingportions are provided at opposite side portions of this movable cover,respectively, and spring members are received respectively in thesespring receiving portions, and extend in a forward-rearward direction.

In this half-fitting prevention connector, however, although ahalf-fitted condition can be prevented by the resilient force of thespring members, there is encountered a problem that when trying to fitthe two connectors together while holding the opposite side surfaces ofthe movable cover with the hand, the movable cover can not be moved, andtherefore the efficiency of the fitting operation is low.

Therefore, various half-fitting prevention connectors for solving theabove problem have been proposed. FIGS. 10 to 13 show a half-fittingprevention connector 100 disclosed in Unexamined Japanese PatentPublication No. Hei. 10-289756.

As shown in FIG. 10, this half-fitting prevention connector 100comprises a pair of male and female connectors 1A and 2 to be fittinglyconnected together.

The male connector 1A comprises a housing 3A which includes an innerhousing 3 a having terminal receiving chambers 17 for respectivelyreceiving a predetermined number of (two in the illustrated example)socket contacts 31. A slider receiving portion 4 for slidably receivinga slider 10 (described later) is formed above the inner housing 3 a, andan outer housing, serving as a hood portion 19, covers the outerperiphery of the inner housing 3 a, with a suitable space formedtherebetween, the outer housing forming the slider receiving portion 4.

Side rib-receiving portions 19 a for respectively receiving side ribs 27(described later) of the female connector 2 are formed in an innersurface of the hood portion 19, and extend in a fitting direction.

Guide grooves 5 for respectively guiding opposite side portions of aslider body 11 are formed respectively at opposite side portions of theslider receiving portion 4, and tubular spring receiving portions 3 care formed respectively at rear ends of the guide grooves 5. A lock arm6 of the cantilever type is formed integrally at a central portion ofthe slider receiving portion 4, and extends in the fitting direction,and a free end (distal end) portion of this lock arm 6 can beelastically displaced in an upward-downward direction.

A lock projection 7, having a slanting surface 7 b, is formed on anupper surface of the lock arm 6, and a housing lock 8 for retainingengagement with a female housing 21 (described later) is formed on alower surface of the lock arm 6 at the distal end thereof. Displacementprevention projections 8 a for preventing the displacement of the lockarm 6 are formed integrally on the upper surface of the lock arm 6, andface away from the housing lock 8. Side spaces 4 a for respectivelyreceiving abutment projections 14 of the slider 10 (described later) areprovided at opposite sides of the lock arm 6, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 10, the slider 10 has an elastic slider arm 12 of thecantilever type provided at a generally central portion of the sliderbody 11, and the pair of abutment projections 14 are formed respectivelyon opposite side portions of a lower surface of the slider arm 12 at afront end thereof. The slider 10 includes a pressing portion 15, whichis operated when canceling the fitting connection, a slide groove 13formed in the slider arm 12 and the pressing portion 15, and a pair ofspring retaining portions 16 which are formed respectively at oppositeside portions of a lower rear portion of the slider, and retain a pairof compression springs (spring members) 9 and 9, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 11, the female connector 2 includes terminal receivingchambers 29 (each in the form of a through hole) for respectivelyreceiving a predetermined number of (two in the illustrated example) pincontacts 32, and this female connector has a housing insertion port 26open to the front end thereof. A pair of stopper projections 22 areformed on the upper surface of the housing 21, and these projections 22abut respectively against the abutment projections 14 of the slider 10when the connectors are fitted together. An engagement projection 23 forretaining the housing lock 8 is formed between the stopper projections22 and 22, and this engagement projection 23 has a slanting surface forflexing (elastically deforming) the lock arm 6 of the male connector 1Awhen the lock arm 6 is brought into engagement with the engagementprojection 23. A bracket 28 for mounting on an associated member isformed on the housing 21, and is disposed at the lower side of thehousing insertion port 26.

First, as shown in FIG. 11, when the slider 10, having the compressionsprings 9 retained respectively by the spring retaining portions 16, isinserted into the slider receiving portion 4 from the front side of themale connector 1A, the slider body 11 is moved rearward along the guidegrooves 5. At this time, the abutment projections 14, formed on thelower surface of the slider arm 12, are received respectively in theside spaces 4 a provided respectively at the opposite sides of the lockarm 6.

Then, the compression springs 9 are received in the spring receivingportions 3 c, respectively, and also the lock projection 7 is fitted inthe slide groove 13, so that the slider 10 is supported on the housing3A so as to move between a lock position and a non-lock position. In thenon-lock position of the slider 10, the slider 10 is disposed at aproximal end-side of the lock arm 6 to allow the elastic deformation ofthe lock arm 6 when the lock arm 6 is brought into and out of engagementwith the mating housing. In the lock position, the slider 10 is disposedat a distal end-side of the lock arm 6 to prevent the elasticdeformation of the lock arm 6.

In the slider-mounted condition, the slider 10 is urged forward (thatis, to the lock position) by the resilient force of the compressionsprings 9 as shown in FIG. 11, and a rear end 13 a of the slide groove13 is engaged with the lock projection 7 in the slide groove 13, andalso the displacement prevention projections 8 a at the distal end ofthe lock arm 6 are abutted against a displacement prevention portion 11a of the slider 10, thereby preventing upward elastic displacement ofthe lock arm 6.

Then, the socket contacts 31 are inserted respectively into the terminalreceiving chambers 17 open to the rear end of the housing 3A of the maleconnector 1A, and these contacts 31 are retained respectively by housinglances formed respectively within the terminal receiving chambers 17.The pin contacts 32 are inserted respectively into the terminalreceiving chambers 29 open to the rear end of the housing 21 of thefemale connector 2, and these contacts 32 are retained respectively byhousing lances formed respectively within the terminal receivingchambers 29.

Then, when the male and female connectors 1A and 2 begin to be fittedtogether as shown in FIG. 12, the stopper projections 22 of the femaleconnector 2 are inserted respectively into the side spaces 4 a (see FIG.10) provided respectively at the opposite sides of the lock arm 6 of themale connector 1A, and these stopper projections 22 abut respectivelyagainst the abutment projections 14 of the slider 10, and when thefemale connector 2 is pushed, the compression springs 9 are compressedto produce a resilient force.

Then, when the fitting operation further proceeds, the slider 10 ispushed rearward (right in FIG. 12) against the bias of the compressionsprings 9, and the housing lock 8 at the distal end of the lock arm 6engages the engagement projection 23 of the female connector 2. If thepushing operation is stopped in this half-fitted condition, the male andfemale connectors 1A and 2 are pushed back away from each other in theirrespective disengaging directions (opposite to their respective fittingdirections) by the resilient force of the compression springs 9, so thatthis half-fitted condition can be easily detected.

Then, when the fitting operation further proceeds as shown in FIG. 13,the slider arm 12 of the slider 10 is elastically deformed upwardly bythe slanting surface 7 b of the lock projection 7, so that the abuttingengagement of each stopper projection 22 with the associated abutmentprojection 14 of the slider 10 is canceled. Then, the housing lock 8 atthe distal end of the lock arm 6 slides over the engagement projection23, and is retained by this projection 23 while the slider arm 12,disengaged from the stopper projections 22, is returned to the lockposition by the resilient force of the compression springs 9.

When the slider 10 is returned to the lock position by the resilientforce of the compression springs 9, the displacement prevention portion11 a of the slider 10 abuts against the displacement preventionprojections 8 a of the lock arm 6, as shown in FIG. 13. Therefore, theelastic deformation of the lock arm 6 is prevented, thus achieving adouble-locked condition in which the cancellation of the engagementbetween the lock arm 6 and the engagement projection 23 is prevented bythe slider 10. In this condition in which the cancellation of theengagement of the lock arm 6 is prevented by the slider 10, the male andfemale connectors are in a completely-fitted condition, and the contacts31 are completely connected to the contacts 32, respectively.

This completely-fitted condition can be detected through the sense oftouch obtained when the housing lock 8 slides over the engagementprojection 23, and also this completely-fitted condition can be easilyconfirmed by viewing the position of the returned slider 10.

In the above conventional half-fitting prevention connector 100, whenthe slider 10 is returned to the lock position, an abutment surface 7 aof the lock projection 7, formed on the lock arm 6, abuts against therear end 13 a of the slide groove 13 in the slider 10, thereby limitingthe forward displacement of the slider 10, as shown in FIG. 13.

Therefore, all of the resilient forces of the compression springs 9serve as a force of impingement of the slider 10 on the lock projection7 on the housing 3A. Therefore, there have been encountered problemsthat the excessive force acts on the lock projection 7, and that a largeimpingement sound and impact vibration due to the impingement of theslider 10 on the lock projection 7 are produced when the slider 10 isreturned, which is unpleasant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved half-fitting prevention connector in which undue impingement ofa slider on a housing is prevented at the time of returning movement ofthe slider, thereby reducing unpleasant impingement sound and impactvibration due to the impingement.

To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a half-fitting prevention connectorwhich comprises a first connector housing having a lock arm formedtherein, the lock arm including a lock projection, a second connectorhousing fittable to the first connector housing, a resilient memberattachable into the first connector housing, a slider insertable intothe first connector housing, the slider preventing a half-fittedcondition of the first and second connector housings by a resilientforce of the resilient member, wherein when the first and secondconnector housings are fitted to each other, the slider cooperates withthe resilient member to move between a lock position where the sliderholds the lock arm in retained relation to the second connector housingand a non-lock position, and the lock projection of the lock arm retainsthe slider in the lock position against the resilient force of theresilient member, and an elastic buffer mechanism provided at the firstconnector housing, wherein, during returning movement of the slider fromthe non-lock position to the lock position by the resilient force of theresilient member, the buffer mechanism abuts against the slider beforethe lock projection abuts against the slider, so as to absorb animpingement energy by an elastic deformation thereof.

In the above construction, during the returning movement of the sliderfrom the non-lock position to the lock position by the resilient forceof the spring member in the connector fitting operation, the sliderabuts against the buffer mechanism before the slider abuts against thelock projection on the lock arm, so as to absorb an impingement energyby the elastic deformation of the buffer mechanism.

Therefore, when the slider subsequently abuts against the lockprojection on the lock arm, the impingement is gentle since theimpingement energy has been absorbed, and an excessive force isprevented from acting on the lock projection, and a large impingementsound and impact vibration due to the impingement can be reduced.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it ispreferable that the buffer mechanism includes buffer projections formedon and projecting respectively from slider-sliding surfaces which areformed in the first connector housing, and on which the slider isslidable, each of the buffer projections having a slanting surface forabutting engagement with the slider, and retraction openings formedadjacent respectively to rear sides of the buffer projections so as toallow the buffer projections to be elastically retracted rearwardlyrespectively from the slider-sliding surfaces to allow the movement ofthe slider.

In this construction, the buffer projections, formed respectively on theslider-sliding surfaces, can be elastically retracted rearwardlyrespectively from the slider-sliding surfaces, and therefore the amountof elastic deformation of the buffer projections can be increased, andalso the slider can be easily inserted and mounted in the firstconnector housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of one preferred embodiment of ahalf-fitting prevention connector of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the procedure ofassembling the half-fitting prevention connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the procedure ofassembling the half-fitting prevention connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an important portion of a male connector shownin FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged view showing an elastic deformation ofa buffer projection shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the half-fitting preventionconnector of FIG. 1 in a completely-fitted condition;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the whole of the half-fittingprevention connector of FIG. 1 in the completely-fitted condition;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of an important portion of anotherembodiment of a half-fitting prevention connector of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of a conventional half-fittingprevention connector;

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the procedure ofassembling the conventional half-fitting prevention connector of FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the conventionalhalf-fitting prevention connector of FIG. 10 in a half-fitted condition;and

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the conventionalhalf-fitting prevention connector in a completely-fitted condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One preferred embodiment of a half-fitting prevention connector of thepresent invention will now be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 1 to 8.

Like the half-fitting prevention connector 100 of FIG. 10, thehalf-fitting prevention connector 200 of this embodiment comprises apair of male and female connectors 1 and 2 to be fittingly connectedtogether.

As shown in FIG. 1, the male connector 1 comprises a housing 3 whichincludes an inner housing 3 a having terminal receiving chambers 17 forrespectively receiving a predetermined number of (two in the illustratedexample) socket contacts 31. A slider receiving portion 4 for slidablyreceiving a slider 10 is formed above the inner housing 3 a, and anouter housing, serving as a hood portion 19, covers the outer peripheryof the inner housing 3 a, with a suitable space formed therebetween, theouter housing forming the slider receiving portion 4.

Side rib-receiving portions 19 a for respectively receiving side ribs 27(described later) of the female connector 2 are formed in an innersurface of the hood portion 19, and extend in a fitting direction.

Guide grooves 5 for respectively guiding opposite side portions of aslider body 11 are formed respectively at opposite side portions of theslider receiving portion 4, and tubular spring receiving portions 3 care formed respectively at rear ends of the guide grooves 5. A lock arm6 of the cantilever type is formed integrally at a central portion ofthe slider receiving portion 4, and extends in the fitting direction,and a free end (distal end) portion of this lock arm 6 can beelastically displaced in an upward-downward direction.

A lock projection 7, having a slanting surface 7 b, is formed on anupper surface of the lock arm 6, and a housing lock 8 for retainingengagement with a female housing 21 (described later) is formed on alower surface of the lock arm 6 at the distal end thereof. Displacementprevention projections 8 a for preventing the displacement of the lockarm 6 are formed integrally on the upper surface of the lock arm 6, andface away from the housing lock 8. Side spaces 4 a for respectivelyreceiving abutment projections 14 of the slider 10 are provided atopposite sides of the lock arm 6, respectively.

The slider 10 and the female connector 2, shown in FIG. 1, are totallyidentical in construction to the slider 10 and the female connector 2,respectively, and therefore the corresponding portions will bedesignated by identical reference numerals, respectively, and detaileddescription thereof will be omitted.

A buffer mechanism 40 is provided at the housing 3. When the slider 10is returned from a non-lock position to a lock position by a resilientforce of compression springs (spring members) 9, this buffer mechanism40 abuts against the slider 10 before the lock projection 7 abutsagainst the slider 10, so as to absorb an impingement energy by anelastic deformation thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the buffer mechanism 40 includes bufferprojections 42, formed on and projecting respectively from edges(serving respectively as slider-sliding surfaces) of upper walls of thehousing 3 provided in overhanging relation to the opposite side portionsof the slider receiving portion 4. The buffer mechanism 40 also includesretraction openings 43 of an elongate oval shape formed adjacentrespectively to the rear sides of the buffer projections 42 so as toallow the buffer projections 42 to be elastically retracted rearwardlyrespectively from the slider-sliding surfaces to allow the movement ofthe slider 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, during the time when the slider 10 is returned tothe lock position, one slanting surface 41 (directed toward the rear end(right end in FIG. 5) of the housing 3) of each buffer projection 42 ofa trapezoidal shape abuts against an abutment portion 10 a of the slider10 at a front end thereof. The other slanting surface of the bufferprojection 42 abuts against a rear end of a pressing portion 15 of theslider 10 when the slider 10 is mounted in the slider receiving portion4.

When the slider 10 is returned to the lock position, the slantingsurface 41 of the buffer projection 42 abuts against the abutmentportion 10 a at the front end of the slider 10 before an abutmentsurface 7 a of the lock projection 7, formed on the lock arm 6, abutsagainst a rear end 13 a of a slide groove 13 in the slider 10.

First, when the slider 10, having the compression springs 9 retainedrespectively by spring retaining portions 16, is inserted into theslider receiving portion 4 from the front side of the male connector 1,the slider body 11 is moved rearward along the guide grooves 5, and theabutment projections 14, formed on a lower surface of a slider arm 12,are received respectively in the side spaces 4 a provided respectivelyat the opposite sides of the lock arm 6.

At this time, although the rear end of the pressing portion 15 of theslider 10, moving rearward in the slider receiving portion 4, abutsagainst the slanting surface (directed toward the front end (left end inFIG. 5) of the housing 3) of each buffer projection 42, the bufferprojection 42 can be easily elastically retracted from theslider-sliding surface since the retraction opening 43 is formedadjacent to the rear side of the buffer projection 42.

Therefore, the slider 10 can be moved rearward in the slider receivingportion 4 while retracting the buffer projections 42 forming the buffermechanism 40. Therefore, despite the fact that the buffer projections 42are formed respectively on the slider-sliding surfaces, the slider 10can be easily inserted and mounted in the housing 3.

Then, the compression springs 9 are received in the spring receivingportions 3 c, respectively, and also the lock projection 7 is fitted inthe slide groove 13, so that the slider 10 is supported on the housing 3so as to move between the lock position and the non-lock position. Inthe non-lock position of the slider 10, the slider 10 is disposed at aproximal end-side of the lock arm 6 to allow the elastic deformation ofthe lock arm 6 when the lock arm 6 is brought into and out of engagementwith the mating housing. In the lock position, the slider 10 is disposedat a distal end-side of the lock arm 6 to prevent the elasticdeformation of the lock arm 6.

In the slider-mounted condition, the slider 10 is urged forward (thatis, to the lock position) by the resilient force of the compressionsprings 9 as shown in FIG. 2, and the rear end 13 a of the slide groove13 is engaged with the lock projection 7 in the slide groove 13, andalso the displacement prevention projections 8 a at the distal end ofthe lock arm 6 are abutted against a displacement prevention portion 11a of the slider 10, thereby preventing upward elastic displacement ofthe lock arm 6.

Then, when the male and female connectors 1 and 2 begin to be fittedtogether as shown in FIG. 3, stopper projections 22 of the femaleconnector 2 are inserted respectively into the side spaces 4 a (seeFIG. 1) provided respectively at the opposite sides of the lock arm 6 ofthe male connector 1, and these stopper projections 22 abut respectivelyagainst the abutment projections 14 of the slider 10, and when thefemale connector 2 is pushed, the compression springs 9 are compressedto produce a resilient force.

Then, when the fitting operation further proceeds, the slider 10 ispushed rearward (right in FIG. 3) against the bias of the compressionsprings 9, and the housing lock 8 at the distal end of the lock arm 6engages an engagement projection 23 of the female connector 2. If thepushing operation is stopped in this half-fitted condition, the male andfemale connectors 1 and 2 are pushed back away from each other in theirrespective disengaging directions (opposite to their respective fittingdirections) by the resilient force of the compression springs 9, so thatthis half-fitted condition can be easily detected.

Then, when the fitting operation further proceeds, the slider arm 12 ofthe slider 10 is elastically deformed upwardly by the slanting surface 7b of the lock projection 7, so that the abutting engagement of eachstopper projection 22 with the associated abutment projection 14 of theslider 10 is canceled. Then, the housing lock 8 at the distal end of thelock arm 6 slides over the engagement projection 23, and is retained bythis projection 23 while the slider arm 12, disengaged from the stopperprojections 22, is returned to the lock position by the resilient forceof the compression springs 9.

At this time, during the returning movement of the slider 10 to the lockposition, the abutment portion 10 a at the front end of the slider 10abuts against the slanting surfaces 41 of the buffer projections 42before the rear end 13 a of the slide groove 13 abuts against theabutment surface 7 a of the lock projection 7 formed on the lock arm 6.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, an impinging force f₁ from the slider 10is dissipated into a force f₂, acting along the slanting surface 41, anda force f₃ acting in a direction perpendicular to the slanting surface41, and also each buffer projection 42 is elastically retractedrearwardly from the slider-sliding surface as shown in FIG. 6, so thatthe impingement energy of the slider 10 is absorbed by this elasticdeformation. The retraction opening 43 is formed adjacent to the rearside of each buffer projection 42, and therefore the buffer projection42 can be easily elastically retracted rearwardly from theslider-sliding surface, and therefore the amount of elastic deformationof the buffer projection 42 can be increased.

Then, the rear end 13 a of the slide groove 13, formed in the slider 10whose impingement energy has been absorbed by the buffer mechanism 40,abuts against the abutment surface 7 a of the lock projection 7 on thelock arm 6, so that the forward displacement of the slider is prevented,and the fitting connection between the male and female connectors 1 and2 is completed.

Therefore, in the half-fitting prevention connector 200 of thisembodiment, all of the force of the compression springs 9 to return theslider 10 in the fitting operation does not serve as the force ofimpingement of the slider 10 on the lock projection 7 of the housing 3,and therefore an excessive force will not act on the lock projection 7,and a large impingement sound and impact vibration due to theimpingement of the slider 10 on the lock projection 7 will not beproduced when the slider 10 is returned.

In the half-fitting prevention connector of the present invention, thehousings, the slider, the buffer mechanism and so on are not limited totheir respective constructions of the above embodiment, and variousmodifications can be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of an important portion of anotherembodiment of a half-fitting prevention connector of the presentinvention.

In this embodiment, a buffer mechanism 50 includes buffer projections52, formed on and projecting respectively from edges (servingrespectively as slider-sliding surfaces) of upper walls of a housing 3Bprovided in overhanging relation to opposite side portions of a sliderreceiving portion. This buffer mechanism 50 also includes retractionopenings 53 formed adjacent respectively to the rear sides of the bufferprojections 52 so as to allow the buffer projections 52 to beelastically retracted rearwardly respectively from the slider-slidingsurfaces to allow the movement of the slider 10, and each of theseretraction openings 53 is in the form of a notch-like slit.

During the returning movement of the slider 10 to the lock position, oneslanting surface 51 (directed toward the rear end (right end in FIG. 9)of the housing 3B) of each buffer projection 52 of a trapezoidal shapeabuts against the abutment portion 10 a of the slider 10 at the frontend thereof as described above for the buffer projection 42. The otherslanting surface of the buffer projection 52 abuts against the rear endof the pressing portion 15 of the slider 10 when the slider 10 ismounted in the slider receiving portion 4. The buffer projection 52 isconnected only at one end thereof to the housing 3B, and hence issupported in a cantilever manner, and therefore the amount of elasticdeformation can be made larger as compared with the buffer projection42.

In the half-fitting prevention connector of the present invention,during the returning movement of the slider from the non-lock positionto the lock position by the resilient force of the spring members in theconnector fitting operation, the slider abuts against the buffermechanism before the slider abuts against the lock projection on thelock arm, so as to absorb an impingement energy by the elasticdeformation of the buffer mechanism.

Therefore, when the slider subsequently abuts against the lockprojection on the lock arm, the impingement is gentle since theimpingement energy has been absorbed, and an excessive force isprevented from acting on the lock projection, and a large impingementsound and impact vibration due to the impingement can be reduced.

Therefore, there can be provided the improved half-fitting preventionconnector in which undue impingement of the slider on the housing isprevented at the time of returning movement of the slider, therebyreducing unpleasant impingement sound and impact vibration due to theimpingement.

What is claimed is:
 1. A half-fitting prevention connector, comprising:a first connector housing having a lock arm formed therein, the lock armincluding a lock projection; a second connector housing fittable to thefirst connector housing; a resilient member attachable into the firstconnector housing; a slider insertable into the first connector housing,the slider preventing a half-fitted condition of the first and secondconnector housings by a resilient force of the resilient member, whereinwhen the first and second connector housings are fitted to each other,the slider cooperates with the resilient member to move between a lockposition where the slider holds the lock arm in retained relation to thesecond connector housing and a non-lock position, and the lockprojection of the lock arm retains the slider in the lock positionagainst the resilient force of the resilient member; and an elasticbuffer mechanism provided at the first connector housing, wherein,during returning movement of the slider from the non-lock position tothe lock position by the resilient force of the resilient member, thebuffer mechanism abuts against the slider before the lock projectionabuts against the slider, so as to absorb an impingement energy by anelastic deformation thereof.
 2. A half-fitting prevention connectoraccording to claim 1, wherein the buffer mechanism includes: bufferprojections formed on and projecting respectively from slider-slidingsurfaces which are formed in the first connector housing, and on whichthe slider is slidable, each of the buffer projections having a slantingsurface for abutting engagement with the slider, and retraction openingsformed adjacent respectively to rear sides of the buffer projections soas to allow the buffer projections to be elastically retractedrearwardly respectively from the slider-sliding surfaces to allow themovement of the slider.